Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 171 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
6. 6.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) speaks first (d) must prove the motion
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
10. 10.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
13. 13.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) may test the definition
23. 23.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
24. 24.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the last speech (b) the winner’s prize (c) the timekeeper (d) the topic statement
25. 25.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
26. 26.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
27. 27.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) may test the definition (c) speaks first (d) says “I beg to oppose”
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
32. 32.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
33. 33.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
38. 38.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition

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